Home HealthcareComes of AgeOver the decades the social and cultural fabric ofEurope has undergone colossal change leading to amajor transformation in the way senior familymembers were cared traditionally. The break-up ofextended families and rampant urbanisation created a hugegap in the care for the elderly and the disabled or those withchronic diseases.As older people become more care-dependent but do notneed hospitalisation, the only viable solution seems to behome care services. The effectiveness of home care servicescannot be denied as the benefits are aplenty. Being at home,or in familiar surroundings and in their communities givecomfort to the elderly and they remain healthier than theywould have in a care centre. Besides, they also have afeeling of security and independence staying in their ownhomes. Individualised care at home promotes quick healingthan in regulated environments of healthcare or nursingestablishments.Life expectancy has increased resulting in a rise in thenumber of old people, lifestyle diseases, noncommunicablediseases, difficulty in mobility, people with mental disordersor the ones who need companionship and assistance in dailychores.There has been a whopping rise in the elderly population inthe European Union and this is expected to riseexponentially. Nearly 20 percent of the Europeanpopulation is above 65 years of age. From around 90.5million couple of years ago, it is expected to touch the 130mark by 2050. With children flying away to different partsof the country, and the globe, home care services becomemore imperative. Add to it the low birth rates and risingcases of infertility.Home care provides a huge range of services to assist andcare for those who do not need treatment in the hospitals. Itcould be non-medical personal care, nursing care, homehealth care. It could include meal preparation, caring for thesick or even healthy senior citizens who live alone,medication reminders, running errands, care during illness,serious injury, progressive diseases like Alzheimer’s,Dementia, even for companionship or palliative care,assistance for daily activities like bathing, dressing,cooking, feeding, transportation, visits to banks or thedoctor, supporting the client or patient by doing the laundryand housekeeping, or even shopping.These services are not restricted to senior citizens butexpands to all age groups including children or youngadults who need care. Service providers are in huge demandfor hospice or palliative care for adults and children withserious illness, from in-home to community-based services.With technological advancements, it has become easier forhealth care service providers to coordinate and monitor theclients. Home health care providers are doing exceptionallywell in their jobs and their demands are multiplying by theday.We bring to the spotlight few such exemplary home careservices in Europe that have caught the attention of theworld, in our latest edition of Insights Care – Europe’s 10Most Trusted Home Care Providers 2021.Have a great read!Sumita Sarkar
Editor’s Note